Railway-traffic controlling system



June 24,1930, M. c. rrywrcHELL ,75

RAILWAY TRAFFIC CONTROLLING SYSTEM Filed Feb. 3/1927 Normql. Hall Normal g Half Reve rse.

Reverse Fer-tented Jane 193G tinlllilll STATES PATENT QFFICE MORTON C. TWITCHELL, 01? SPENCER-PORT, NEV YORK, AS SIGNOR TO GENERAL RAIL- WAY SIGNAL COMPANY, 03? ROCLEIESTEE, NEW YORK BAELWAY-TRAFFIC CONTROLLING- SYSTEM Application filed February 3, 1927. Serial No. 165,627.

This invention relates in general to control means for railway trailic, and has more particular reference to means for controlling the operation of railway switches.

In cases where outlying railway switches are controlled from a central tower, by interlocked levers it is desirable that an indication be received at the tower, upon completion of the switch throw, to unlock the switch control lever and thus permit its movement to the full normal or full re verse position, the case may be, to thereby unlock other levers having functions not in conflict therewith.

It is also most lesirable that protection be afforded against a false indication due to cross wires since if a cross should result in a false indication, the lever in question might be moved to its final position at an improper time, thus improperly unlocking other levers before the function of the lever in question had been completed.

lVlt-ll the above and other considerations in view, it proposed, in accordance with this invention, to provide means for satisfactorily accomplishing the ab ve referred to desirable results.

iiore specifically, it proposed in accordance with this invention to provide a holding magnet for a latch cooperating with a tower C011? =l lever, the holding magnet having an energ zing circuit controlled by a polar relay havi. a contact finger biased to a position to open the circuit through the holding magnet, completion of the stroke of the switch points, in either direction, complet a circuit through the polar relay ener zed by current of polarity to close the circuit through the holeiling magnet, the wires connecting the tower to the outlying switch being arranged so that crosses therebetween will at most only cause flow of cur rent through the polar relay in a direction to urge the contact finger more strongly toward its biased open circuiting position. In this manner very effective cross-protection is obtained.

Further objects, purposes, and characteristic features of this invention will appear as the description progresses, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, showing ranged to be operated by a switch machine.

SM, the switch machine being driven by a motor M comprising a field 3 and an armature at.

The switch machine SM is connected up to operate contact carrying blocks 5 and 6 I formed of insulating material, the block 5 carrying pole changing contacts 7 and 8 for controlling operation of the motor M, and the block 6 carrying an indication controlling contact 9. These movable contacts 79 cooperate in a predetermined manner with four pairs of fixed contacts 1011, 1213, H-15, and 16-l7. The connection between the blocks 5 and 6 and the switch machine is such that the following operations occur. Upon the switch machine being locked in reverse operation, contact 7 opens while upon the switch machine being unlocked in normal operation, contact 7 closes. Upon the switch machine being locked in normal operation, contact 8 opens, while upon the switch machine being unlocked in reverse operating contact 8 closes. lVith regard to the contact 9, which controls fiow of indication current, this contact closes fixed contacts 12 and 13 upon the switch machine being locked normal, and opens such contacts 12 and 13 upon the switch machine being unlocked in reverse operation, while it closes fixed contacts 16 and 17 upon the switch machine being locked in reverse operation, and opens contacts 16 and 17 upon the switch machine being unlocked in normal operation. Normal and reverse, as used in this specification, refer to the moving of the switch for main line traffic and for siding traific respectively.

lVith the various contacts operating as described above, it will be seen that contact 8 makes up the circuit for normal operation of the switch machine immediately upon initiation of operation of the machine in reverse operation, and that indication contact 9 breaks contact with 12 and 13 or 16 and 17 as the case may be, upon unlocking of the machine for reverse or normal operation, and makes contact only upon locking up of the machine in reverse or normal operation, as the case may be, so that unless the switch points be thrown and locked in thrown position, the Contact 9 out of contact with the two iairs of fixed contcts 12-13 and 1(' 17.

Arranged adjacent the switch machine is a polar neutral relay 18, having a neutral contact 19, and polar contacts 20 and 21, there being a local battery LV positioned adjacent thereto.

The switch machine SM is controlled by an interlocked lever L, of a usual design, in a control tower usually at some distance from the switch location. The lever L operates movable contacts 22, 23 and 21 which contacts cooperate with fixed contacts 25-30.

A latch means is provided for preventing movement of the lever to its full reverse, or full normal position, until after the track switch has been completely thrown and locked up in thrown position. This latch means includes a detent 31 which locks the lever L in its half reverse or half normal position, as the case may be, and prevents further movement of the lever until after the latch 31 is released by energization of indication magnets IM. This latch means for interlocked levers, is well understood by those skilled in the art, and for a more detailed description, attention is directed to Patent No. 752,127 of February 16, 1901, to J. D. Taylor.

Included in the energizing circuit for the indication magnet IM is a contact finger 32 of a polar indication relay IR, the finger 32 being biased to its right hand position by means Also included in the energizing circuit for the magnets IM is a local indication battery IB.

Connecting up the various devices located respectively at the switch location, and at the control tower, are three wires, a common wire C, a normal wire N, and a reverse wire R.

All the various parts are shown in the drawing in their normal positions, that is, with the track switch 2 set for main line tratlic. To simplify the understanding of the operation of this control. system a complete cycle of operation will be described briefly, before going into detail with regard to tracing the various circuits involved.

In the position of the parts shown in the drawing, the relay 18 is energized by can rent from the source IB, flowing in a direction to move its contact fingers 20 and 21 to the right. If it be desired to throw the track switch 2 for passage onto the siding, lever L is moved from its normal position as shown, to its half reverse position, at which position the latch 31 prevents further movement to its full reverse position. Movement of the lever L to its half reverse position causes energization of relay 18 by current flowing in a direction to move its contact fingers 20 and 21 to the left, thus closing a circuit for energy from the source LB, to energize the motor M to cause it to operate in a forward direction to thus move the track switch 2 to siding position. On completion of the switch throw, and locking up of the same, contact carrying blocks 5 and 6 have been moved to cause 7 to break and 8 and 9 to make contact, to thereby make up a circuit for reverse operation of the motor M, and to complete a circuit through indication relay IR, so that current from the source LB can flow in a direction to move the contact finger 32, to the left, thereby closing the local energizing circuit for the magnets IM, which circuit is obvious from the drawing, whereupon energy from source IB, energizes the magnets IM, and releases the latch 31 so as to permit lever L to be moved to its full reverse position to thereby unlock such other levers as is proper, the movement of lever L to full reverse breaking the circuit through relay IR at contacts 28 and thus (la-energizing the indication magnets IM by movement of finger 32 to its biased position. The indication circuit just mentioned for the reversed position includes the normal wire. Likewise the indication circuit for the normal position of the switch machine includes the reverse wire. For this reason the normal wire. N may for convenience be called the reverse indication wire, and vice-versa.

\Vhen it is desired to move the track switch from siding, to main line, position, lever L is moved from reverse toward normal, and the same cycle of operations, as described above, occurs in reverse order, the switch machine motor M being energized to operate in the opposite direction from that described above.

Considering the operation more in detail, with the parts as shown, relay 18 is energized through the following circut:from the positive side of source 113, contacts 24 and 27, wire N, the winding of relay 18, wire R, contacts 26 and 23, wire 34, and back to the negative side of source IB.

On movement of lever L to its half reverse position, an energizing circuit is completed through relay 18 as follows :-from the positive side of source 113, wire 35, contacts 3t) and 24, wires 36 and R, the winding of relay 18, wire N, contacts 23 and 29, and back to the source I15. It will be noted that flow of current through relay 18, as

just described, is in the reverse direction to that previously flowing, so that contact fingers and 21 assume their left hand positions.

An energizing circuit for motor M is now completed, as follows :from the positive side 01' the source LB, fingers 19 and 20, wire 37, contacts 11, 7 and 10, the armature l of the motor, wire 38, finger 21, wire 39, the motor field 3, wire 40, and back to the source LB.

Upon completion of the stroke of the switch 2, and locking up of the switch in thrown position, as described above, the contact blocks 5 and 6 are in their right hand positionso as to connect up the contacts ll5 and 1617. 'Ihisbridging of 161T by contact 9, permits energization of indication relay IF, through the following circuit-:irom the positive side of source LB, lingers 19 and 20, wire 37, contacts 16, 9 and 17, wires -l-1 and i l, contacts 22 and 28, wires a2 and the winding of relay IR, and back to the source L3. The current flowing through relay IR, this in such a direction as to move its finger 32 to the left, thus completing the local circuit through the magnets IM, including battery IB, whereupon the magnets IM are energized by battery IE to release the latch 31 and permit movement of lever L to its full reverse position, thus breaking the circuit through the indication relay IR at the contact 28.

On movement of lever L in the opposite direction the same cycle takes place in the reverse order, except that the switch machine motor M is energized in the opposite direction through its armature but in the same direction through its field so as to reverse its rotation. As in moving the switch 2 from normal to reverse, here again the source LB sends current through indication relay IR in a direction to move contact finger 32 to close the local circuit for indication magnets IM whereby to release the latch 31 and permit movement of lever L to its full normal position.

Above has been described the operation of the switch from normal to reverse and from reverse to normal. Let it be assumed that for any reason whatsoever, in moving the switch 2 from normal to reverse, it becomes desirable to reverse operation and move them back to normal during mid-stroke. It will be remembered from the above that the circuit for operation of the motor M to throw the switch back to normal, was made up by the contact 8 bridging contacts 14 and 15, as soon as the switch was unlocked for operation, and that contact 9 was moved out of contact with both pairs of contacts 12-13 and Iii-17.

In these circumstances, movement of lever L towards normal will be stopped by the latch 31 at the half normal position, whereupon current from source IE will flow through relay 18 in a direction to move its contact fingers 20 and 21 to the right to thus permit current from source LB to flow through the motor M in a direction to operate the switch 2 to normal. It is only upon completion of the throw of the switch to normal and the locking up of the points in normal position, that the contact 9 will bridge acrosscontacts 12 and 13 to permit indication current from source LB to move contact finger 32 of relay IR to complete the local circuit for the magnets IM to thereby permit movement of the lever L to its full normal position.

Thus it will be seen that it is always possible during normal or reverse operation of the switch, to change the operation in midstroke to the opposite direction, the polar-. ized relay IR operating in connection with the movable contact 9, to give an indication current to release the latch 31 of the interlocked lever L, only when the switch points have been securely locked in their thrown position.

It will be noted from the above that current from source LB always flows through the polar relay IR in the same direction, regardless of whether the movable contact 9 be in its right, or left hand final position, and that current flow through relay IR in a reverse direction merely results in more strongly urging the contact finger 32 to the right to open the local circuit for the magnets IM. In this connection it will be noted that the tower containing lever L, and the location of the track switch 2, are interconnected only by the three wires N, R and C. While the utmost care is taken to prevent any cross connections between these three wires, it is always possible that a cross will occur. lVith the arrangement shown and described, a cross between the wire 0 and either of the wires N or R will not resultin a false indication, since the positive energy from source LB, which is applied to either the wire N or R as the case may be, will flow to the wire C and then through relay IR in the reverse direction from that previously traced, resulting merely in more strongly urging contact finger 32 to the right to its open circuiting position. It will thus be seen that a very efi'ective cross protection has been provided whereby a cross can result, at most, only in energizing the polar relay IE to its open circuiting position. Should the cross occur while the lever L is in its half normal or half reverse position fiow would occur as described above through the relay IR to open the circuit for the magnets IM, while should it occur in any other position of the lever L no current would flow through the relay IR since it would be open circuited at the contacts and 28.

The above described control system for outlying switches provides switch operation in either direction, capable of reversal in mid-stroke, to ether with indication means giving its i'IXdICfitlOIl onl i when the switch points are locked up in thrown position, regardless of whether the switch has been continuously moved from one final position to another, or has been reversed in mid-stroke, together with means whereby effective safe guards against false indications due to crosses has been provided.

The above rather specific description of one form of applicants invention has been given solely by way of illustration, and is not intended, in any manner whatsoever, in a limiting sense. Obviously, the invention can assume various different physical forms, and is susceptible of numerous modifications, and all such forms and modifications are intended to be included by this invention, as come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described my invention, I now claim 1. In a switch operating system, a track switch, a switch control lever, an electrically operated latch for the lever, an energizing circuit for the latch, an indication circuit controlled in accordance with movement of the switch and includin a source of energy, a polar relay for contro ling said energizing circuit arranged to close and to open the energizing circuit when traversed by currents of opposite polarity respectively, means for reversing operation of the switch in mid stroke, and means biasing the polar relay to open said energizing circuit.

2. In a switch operating system, a track switch, a switch control lever, an electrically operated latch for the lever, an energizing circuit for the latch, an indication circuit controlled in accordance with movement of the switch and including a source of energy, a device in the indication circuit controlling said energizing circuit, said device operating to close the energizing circuit only when ener ized with current of a given polarity, and said indication circuit beng arranged that crosses of wires connecting the lever location to the switch location at most causes flow of current through the said device in a direction to open the energizing circuit.

3. In a switch operating system, a power operated track switch, a distant lever for controlling the switch, an electrically operated latch for the lever, a local circuit for controlling the latch, an indication circuit controlled by movement of the switch including a source of energy and a polar relay, the polar relay controlling the latch circuit to close said circuit only when energized by current of a given polarity, the wires connecting the lever location and the switch location being arranged so that crosses therebetween will at most cause current to flow through the polar relay only in a direction to open the latch controlling circuit.

4. In an interlocking system; the combination with a lever having a normal and a reverse position; of a trafiic controlling device having a normal and a reverse position; indicating means associated with said lever; a normal indication wire, a reverse indication wire and a common wire connecting said lever and trafiic cont-rolling device; a source of current at said traffic controlling device having one terminal thereof permanently connected to said common wire; an indication circuit including said reverse indication wire and said indicating means closed only if both said lever and said traflie controlling devices are in the normal position and including said source of current; another indication circuit including said normal wire and said indicating means closed only if both said lever and said trailic controlling devices assume the reverse position and including said source of current; and a third circuit for controlling said traffic controlling device in accordance with the position of said lever including said normal indication wire and said reverse indication wire in series.

5. In an interlocking system; the combination with a lever havin a normal and a reverse position; of a tra ic controlling device having a normal and a, reverse position; indicating means associated with said lever; a normal indication wire, a reverse indication wire and a common wire connecting said lever and trafiic controlling device; a source of current at said trafiie controlling device having one terminal thereof permanently connected to said common wire; a source of current at said lever; an indication circuit including said indicating means, said reverse indicating wire and the source of current at said traflic controlling device, closed only when both said lever and said traffic controlling devices assume the normal position; another indicating circuit including said indicating means, said normal indicating wire and the source of current at said trafiic controlling devicc, closed only when both said lever and said traffic controlling device assume the reverse position; and means for controlling said trafiic controlling device in accordance with the position of said lever over said normal and reverse indicating wires in series including the source of current located at the lever,

(3. In an interlocking system, the combination with a lever having a normal and a reverse position; of a tratfic controlling device having a normal and a reverse position; indicating means associated with said lever; a normal indication wire, a reverse indication wire and a common wire connecting said lever and trallic controlling device; a source of current at said t 'afiic controlling device having one terminal thereof permanently connected to said common wire; a source of current at said lever; an indication circuit including said indicating means, said reverse in lica ng wire and the source of current at said traffic controlling device, closed only whe: both said lever and said t attic controlling devi e assume the normal position; another indicating circuit including said indicating means, said normal indicating wire and the source 01" current at said traiic controlling device, closed only when both said lever and said trallic controlling device assume the reverse position; means for controlling said tratlic controlling device in a col-dance 'ith the position of said lever over said norms and reverse indicating wires in series including the source of current loc ;l at the lever; and means asso cia-ted with said tnl'lic controlling device for cutting off current thereto when it has rssumed a position corresponding to that of said lever.

7. In an interlocking system; the combination with an electrically operated trailic controlling device; of a lever "for controlling d device; a normal, a reverse and a common wire connecting said lever and device; lever unlocking means permanently connected in said common vire; a polar relay at said device controlled to a position depending on the )olarity of current applied to said normal and reverse wire from a source of current at said lever; another source of current at said t a'liic controlling device having its one terminal connected to said commonv'ire; circuit control means associated with said tratllc controlling device for causing said device to be operated to a position COllQSPOllCllIlg to that of said relay and for cutting oil current when said device has reached such corresponding position; and means partly associated with said lever and partl associated with said trailic con trolling device for connecting the other terminal of the source of current at said device to the lever end oi the common wire through the medium oi said normal or reverse wire when said lever and device assume corresponding positions, whereby said lever unlocking means is operated.

8. In an interlocking system; the combination with an electricrlly operated traffic controlling device; oil a lever for controlling sail l device; a normal, a reverse and a common wire connecting said lever and device; lever unlocking means permanently connected in said common wire; a polar relay at said device controlled to a position depending on the polarity of current applied to said normal and reverse wire trrom a source of current at said lever; another source of current at said trai'fic controlling device having its one terminal connected to said common wire; circuit control means associated with said trailic controlling device for causing said device to be operated to aposition corresponding to that of said relay and for cutting off current when said device has reached such corresponding position; and a circuit including the source of current at said device, said common wire said lever unlocking means, and one or the other of said normal and reverse wires, when said trallic controlling device and lever assume corresponding positions.

9. In an interlocking system; the combination with an electrically operated trailic controlling device; of a lever for controlling said device; a normal, a reverse and a common wire connectin said lever and device; lever unlocking means permanently connected in id common wi e; a polar relay at said device controlled to a position depending on the polarity of current applied to said normal and reverse wire from a source of current at said lever; another source of current at said traiiic controlling device having its one terminal connected to said common wire; circuit control means associated with said tratlic controlling device for causing said device to be operated to a position corresponding to that of said relay and for cutting oil current when said device has reached such corresponding position; and means partly associated with said lever and partly associated with said trafiio controlling device for connecting the other terminal of the source of current at said de vice to the lever end of the common wire through the medium of? said normal or reverse wire when said lever and device assume corresponding positions, whereby said lever unlocking means is operated; the polarity of the source of current at said traliic controlling device being such with respect to the common wire that a cross between the common wire and the normal wire when said device assumes the normal position will at most cause said relay to be energized to the normal position and will therefore not cause false operation of the trailic controlling device.

10. In an interlocking system; the combination with an electrically operated tratlic controlling device; of a lever for controlling said device; a normal, a reverse and a common wire connecting said lever and device; lever unlocking means permanently connected in said common wire; a polar relay at said device controlled to a position depending on the polarity of current applied to said normal and reverse wire from a source of current at said lever; another source of current at said trafiic controlling device having its one terminal connected to said common wire; circuit control means associated with said trafiic controlling device for causing said device to be operated to a position corresponding to that of said relay and for cutting off current when said device has reached such corresponding position; and means partly associated with said lever and partly associated with said trailic control ling device for connecting the other terminal of the source of current at said device to the lever end of the common wire through the medium of said normal or reverse wire when said lever and device assume corresponding positions, whereby said lever unlocking means is operated; the polarity of the source of current at said traliic control-- ling device being such with respect to the common wire that a cross between the common wire and the reverse wire when said device assumes the reverse position will at most cause said relay to be energized to the reverse position and will therefore not cause false operation of the traiiic controlling device.

11. In an interlocking system; the combination with an electrically operated tratlic controlling device; of a lever tor controlling said device; a normal, a reverse and a common wire connecting said lever and device; lever unlocking means permanently connected in said common wire; a polar relay at said device controlled to a position depending on the polarity of current applied to said normal and reverse wire from a source of current at said lever; another source of current at said trattio controlling device having its one terminal connected to said common wire; circuit control means associated with said tratiic controlling device for causing said. device to be operated to av position COlltSPOIHllllg to that of said relay and for cutting off current for one direction of operation only of said traffic controlling device when said device has reached the extreme corresponding position, whereby it is possible to operate the trattic controlling device in either direction when in an intermediate position; and means partly associated with said lever and partly associated with said traflic controlling device for connecting the other terminal of the source of current at said device to the lever end of the common wire through the medium of said normal or reverse wie when said lever and device assume corresponding positions, whereby said lever unlocking means is operated.

12. In a system for controlling a switch machine, the conibination with a power operated switch machine, a polar control relay for controlling said switch machine located near said switch machine, a distant lever for controlling said control relay, a polar indicating relay located near said lever, three wires connecting said lever location and said switch machine location, two of said wires being used to control said control relay from a source of energy at said lever and one of said two wires and the third wire being used to control said indicating rela from a source of energy at said switcii machine. 7

13. In a system for controlling a switch machine, the combination with a power operated switch machine, a polar control relay for controlling said switch machine located near said switch machine, a distant lever for controlling said contol relay, a polar indicating relay located near said lever, three wires connecting said lever location and said switch machine location, two of said wires being used to control said control relay from a source of energy at said lever and the third wire being used in combination with one or the other of said two wires depending upon whether said switch machine assumes the normal or the reverse position to control said indicating relay from a source of current located at said switch machine.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

MORTON C. TIVITCHELL. 

